CN107667319B

CN107667319B - Conveyor system with configuration change

Info

Publication number: CN107667319B
Application number: CN201680023942.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赫伯特·亨策
Original assignee: Interroll Holding AG
Current assignee: Interroll Holding AG
Priority date: 2015-04-20
Filing date: 2016-04-20
Publication date: 2021-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-20
Also published as: US20180086567A1; EP3286612A1; WO2016169982A1; DE102015106024A1; JP6805169B2; DE102015106024B4; JP2018513819A; CN107667319A; EP3286612B1; US10399792B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying objects, such as containers or packages, comprising: a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive; a bus communication device, wherein each control unit is connected with the bus communication device to send and/or receive control signals via the bus communication device. According to the invention, each control unit has: a microprocessor for processing the control signal; an electronic first memory coupled to the microprocessor, the electronic first memory storing a first control configuration therein; and an electronic second memory in which a second control configuration is stored, wherein the microprocessor is configured to: the transport drive is controlled in a first operating mode by means of a first control configuration stored in a first memory, a second control configuration is loaded from a second memory into the first memory upon receipt of a configuration change command, and the transport drive is thereafter controlled in a second operating mode by means of the second control configuration stored in the first memory.

Description

Conveyor system with configuration change

Technical Field

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying objects, such as containers or packages, comprising: a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive; a bus communication device, wherein each control unit is connected with the bus communication device to send and/or receive control signals via the bus communication device. Another aspect of the invention is a method for controlling a conveying apparatus for conveying objects, such as containers or packages, the conveying apparatus comprising: a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive, the control unit having a microprocessor; a bus communication device to which a control unit is connected, the method comprising the steps of: the first control configuration is stored in an electronic first memory in the control unit, which is connected to the microprocessor.

Background

A conveying system of the type mentioned at the outset and a method for controlling such a conveying system are provided for: conveying objects, such as trays, boxes, cases, mailers, and the like, in internal logistics applications. The transport path is formed by a plurality of transport sections, which are arranged one behind the other. Each transport section has a transport drive, which can be controlled individually. For the purpose of this individual control, a control unit is assigned to each transport section. In principle, each conveyor section can have a separate control unit arranged in the housing, or the control units for several adjacent conveyor sections can be combined in a common control module.

The control units or control modules are connected to each other by means of a bus communication device. The bus communication device is used for transmitting signals, and the signals are related to the conveying of the objects on the conveying route of the conveying equipment. In particular, a signal can be transmitted here which signals the presence of an object on a specific transport section. Such a presence signal or occupancy signal can be obtained, for example, by means of a sensor, for example a light barrier, which is connected to a control unit of the conveying section. Furthermore, via the bus communication device, a drive signal for activating the transport drive and, if appropriate, further signals, for example for loading or unloading processes, lifting devices, etc., can be transmitted.

It is basically known that: such a conveying installation is equipped with a central control device. In such a central control device, a centrally arranged control unit, for example an SPS control unit, takes over the control of the transport process within the route section of the transport device or within the transport device. For this purpose, the central control device sends commands to the individual control units via the bus communication means, which commands typically contain an activation signal for the transport drive, a deactivation signal for the transport drive, parameter data for the speed of the transport drive, etc. The central control device in turn receives signals, for example occupancy signals, from the control unit. In this central control mode, the entire logic sequence of the conveying process takes place in a central control unit, each control unit being used only for transmitting and, if necessary, modulating signals.

In addition to this central control method, a distributed control method is also known. In a decentralized control mode, the logical processes of the transport process are distributed to the individual control units. For this purpose, the control units exchange signals with one another, for example, to be able to inform adjacent control units about the occupancy or admission capacity of adjacent transport sections arranged at least downstream thereof. The control unit activates the conveyor drive connected thereto in accordance with the signal thus obtained with respect to the occupation or receiving capacity of the downstream adjacent conveyor section in order to transport the objects through the conveyor path in this manner without collisions. In order to avoid damage at the transported object, it is preferable to control the transport mode without build-up pressure. This means that: the objects conveyed within the conveying path do not touch one another at any point in time, so that: due to the introduction of the conveying force into a plurality of objects lying next to one another, the objects arranged downstream are damaged by the high forces that can occur as a result. In principle, in a delivery mode without a build-up pressure, a distinction is made between two different types of operation, namely a single withdrawal (Einzelabzug) mode in which objects are delivered from one delivery section into a downstream delivery section as soon as the downstream delivery section delivers the object supported thereon, and a group withdrawal (Blockabzug) mode in which the upstream delivery section activates its delivery drive as soon as the delivery drive of the downstream adjacent delivery section is activated. In principle, both operating modes can be realized by means of a central and decentralized control. In order to correspondingly control the transport drives in accordance with one of these two operating modes or the other transport implemented as a hybrid or completely different control mode, signals, such as control commands, occupancy signals, etc., need to be communicated via bus communication.

Communication via bus communication requires in principle a so-called bus protocol. The bus protocol specifies: the form in which the signal must be transmitted via the bus communication in order for it to reliably arrive at the receiver, be interpreted by the receiver as a signal transmitted to the receiver, and be able to read out the information contained therein. In principle, the central control unit is available in different variants which use different control modes and operate according to different bus protocols, common bus protocols being TCP/IP, Profibus, CAN, for example.

The basic selection between the decentralized and central control types and the different design of the decentralized and central control types with a stronger or not so strongly pronounced transfer of logical process steps from the central control unit into the decentralized control units opens up a large variety and design freedom which is advantageous in principle in the first place in the construction of internal logistics transport systems, depending on the different control types of the individual withdrawals, group withdrawals or mixed forms composed of them and the different communication types by means of different bus protocols. The system specifications thus required enable the creation of control units within a defined system, which are custom-manufactured for the respective system requirements and are thus optimized with regard to the manufacturing costs, wherein the system defines control levels and control modes and communication protocols. Since an extremely high number of control units is to be built in a large conveying installation, they represent a large share of the total cost of the conveying system and are therefore subject to high cost pressures.

However, a disadvantage of the high variant diversity in principle in conveying systems is: interchangeability of system components in different delivery systems is small or non-existent. It is often not feasible for the user of such a delivery system to combine the components of the delivery systems of different system manufacturers with each other or to adjust for this individually. Often, the components of a delivery system from different system generations of a unique manufacturer are not compatible with each other. The result is: although it is possible to produce and provide customized and therefore cost-effective components for each transport system, such as control units, transport drives and, if necessary, central control devices, large-scale warehousing of the individual system components ensues in order to ensure for the already installed systems: a subsequent replacement of the failed component can be provided or additional components required for the expansion or retrofitting process can be provided. The necessity of this large-scale warehouse management and the maintenance associated therewith of the manufacturing capacity of a plurality of different conveying systems generates additional costs on the part of the manufacturer of such conveying devices. This is in conflict with the original seek to provide such a conveying apparatus at low cost.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention solves the problem of providing a customized delivery system for a specific application on the one hand and overcoming the diversity of variants and avoiding the compatibility limitations arising therefrom on the other hand.

According to the invention, a conveyor system of the type initially proposed, which is improved in this respect, is provided, which significantly reduces the need for stock management of a large number of different system components in cost-effective system solutions. This is achieved by a conveying apparatus of the initially proposed type, wherein each control unit has: a microprocessor for processing the control signal; an electronic first memory connected to the microprocessor, the first memory storing a first control configuration therein; and an electronic second memory in which a second control configuration, preferably a plurality of control configurations, different from the first control configuration is stored, wherein the microprocessor is designed to: in a first operating mode, the transport drive is controlled by means of a first control configuration stored in a first memory; loading the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration from the second memory into the first memory upon receiving a configuration change command; and thereafter in a second operating mode, the transport drive is controlled by means of a second control configuration stored in the first memory or a control configuration different from the first control configuration.

According to the invention, two electronic memories are provided in the control unit of the transport device according to the invention, said electronic memories being used for different purposes and being controllable, interrogatable and manageable by means of a microprocessor. The first and second memories can differ from each other with respect to their physical principle or structure, with respect to their reading speed and/or with respect to their storage capacity.

The first memory is for: the control configuration applied accordingly is stored, this being the first control configuration. The microprocessor processes the control signals during operation of the conveying installation according to this first control configuration, that is to say the microprocessor operates, for example, according to a bus protocol, a control mode or control parameters, which are defined in this first control configuration. The first memory is in particular a memory which is accessed by fast reading in order to ensure a delay-free flow of the control process or the transport process. The first memory can be formed integrally with the microprocessor, for example.

The electronic second memory can have a slower read access than the first memory, but should preferably have a larger memory capacity than the first memory. In the second memory, at least one second control configuration is stored, the second control configuration being different from the first control configuration.

In particular, it is preferred that a plurality of control configurations which are different from one another and from the first control configuration are stored in the electronic second memory. The control configuration in the electronic second memory is an inventory which, as an alternative to the first control configuration, can be loaded into the electronic first memory in order to thus operate the control unit according to a further control configuration. In principle, it is to be understood that: the first control configuration and the second or further different control configuration can be programmed into the electronic first memory in advance and correspondingly into the electronic second memory, i.e. already stored in the delivery state of the control unit. It is also to be understood that: in principle, it is also possible to: the control configuration is stored in the electronic first or second memory during ongoing operation or during a programming step when the delivery device according to the invention is installed or during an upgrade step after successful installation of the delivery device according to the invention. This can be done, for example, as a firmware upgrade, where the control configuration in the first and/or second memory is supplemented or replaced. Particularly preferred are: the first, second and all further control configurations are stored and retained in the second memory and the first control configuration or the last used control configuration is loaded from the second memory into the first memory each time the conveying device is started.

The conveying installation according to the invention is thus enabled to operate in at least two different operating modes, namely a first or a second operating mode. In particular, the following are realized: the transport device according to the invention can be operated in a plurality of different operating modes according to a corresponding plurality of control configurations, which are stored in the electronic second memory. Thus, according to the invention: the second memory, which is supplemented with electronics in each control unit, provides a simple configuration possibility for the control unit in order to adapt the control unit to different operating modes and in this way it is possible to: the respective transport sections are controlled according to different bus protocols, different control types (central, decentralized … …) and different control modes (individual withdrawal, group withdrawal, … …) and the communication required for this control is carried out. In this way, a universally usable control unit is provided, which can be produced without significant further costs and can be adapted in a simple and rapid manner to the respectively individually required operating mode. The match can be triggered by a configuration change command. The configuration change command can be input directly at the control unit, for example via a user interface, for which purpose it can be a corresponding button, key or other triggering means at the control unit. Alternatively, the configuration change command can be sent to the control unit via the bus communication device, which enables an ergonomically favorable simultaneous configuration change in particular in a plurality of control units or in all control units of the conveying installation.

According to a first preferred embodiment, it is proposed that: the microprocessor is configured to: the first control configuration in the first memory from the electronics is replaced in the first memory by a second control configuration from the second memory or a different control configuration than the first control configuration upon receiving the configuration change command. In this embodiment, the first control configuration in the electronic first memory is replaced by a control configuration different therefrom when the corresponding configuration change command is received, which control configuration is loaded from the electronic second memory into the electronic first memory.

It is also preferred that the electronic first memory is a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, in particular a flash memory, and the electronic second memory is a non-volatile memory, in particular a flash memory. This particular selection of the first and second memories enables, in one aspect: a fast memory component, i.e. a volatile, for example RAM (random access memory), is used as the first memory, and thus fast signal processing is achieved for the continuous operation of the conveying device. In this case, according to the invention, the electronic first memory of the RAM does not have to have a particularly high memory capacity, since only the control configurations required for the actual operating mode have to be stored therein. In contrast, the electronic second memory is embodied as a flash memory. Such flash memories are characterized by slower signal transmission compared to RAM memories, but can nevertheless be produced at very high cost with high memory capacity. In the electronic second memory, therefore, a plurality of different control configurations can be stored in a cost-effective manner, without the delayed read-out capability of the flash memory adversely affecting the normal transport operation of the transport device according to the invention. In particular, media that can be connected to a data interface of the control unit, such as an SD card, a compact flash card, etc., can also be considered as flash memory. The control unit according to the invention therefore does not necessarily have to be provided with a permanently installed second memory, but rather the electronic second memory can also be realized by a corresponding electronic interface for connecting the memory elements. Read action is only required from the second memory during switching of the operating mode, where the small read speed of the second memory is not critical.

It is also preferred that: the first control configuration comprises a first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means, and the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second bus protocol different from the first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to select between two different bus protocols by switching the control configuration. The control unit or conveying apparatus according to the invention is thus able to: optionally, at least two, preferably more, different bus protocols are used and communication is carried out via the bus communication device according to the bus protocol respectively selected from the bus protocols. In principle, it should be understood here that: by means of the bus protocol, the transmission between the control units or within the conveying installation CAN be adapted to different transmission media (e.g. radio, optical fiber, ethernet, CAN, RS485, RS232) and to different communication protocols (e.g. TCP/IP, CAN, ethernet/IP, Profinet, Profibus, Modbus).

Still more preferably: the first control configuration comprises a first control method which configures the microprocessor to receive control commands via the bus communication means in the central control mode and to forward the control commands to the transport drives, and the second control configuration or a control configuration which is different from the first control configuration comprises a second control method which is different from the first control method and which configures the microprocessor to receive occupancy signals and/or transport signals from the control units of adjacent transport sections in the decentralized control mode and to generate control commands logically in the microprocessor from the occupancy signals and/or transport signals and to send the control commands to the transport drives. With this preferred embodiment, the following is achieved: the conveying apparatus according to the invention or the control unit used therein has a versatility. The control unit can be adapted by adapting the control configuration to different control types, for example to a decentralized or central control, and can be configured for corresponding transmission or corresponding decentralized logic signal processing. In contrast to the solutions known to date, according to the invention: in the electronic second memory, a plurality of, for example more than 100, different control configurations are stored, and each of these control configurations can be selectively loaded into the electronic first memory in order to bring about a corresponding operating mode, wherein in the known solution the control program is stored in a read-only memory within the control unit and is thus not changeable. The control arrangement here preferably includes a description of the transport process in the form of a state table in the following manner: i.e. the control process is described as a state machine within the state table. Thereby realizing that: the control program can be stored in comparison with the otherwise required machine commands and with its compact memory requirement, so that a microcontroller with a relatively small memory capacity can be implemented in the electronic first memory in the control unit.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that: the first control configuration comprises a first control method configuring the microprocessor to control a first delivery mode, and the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second control method different from the first control method configuring the microprocessor to control a second delivery mode different from the first delivery mode, wherein the first delivery mode and/or the second delivery mode are preferably selected from:

-a single evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of the delivery section when it obtains a signal comprising: the transport section disposed adjacently downstream is not occupied,

-a group evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of the delivery section when the microprocessor receives a signal comprising: the transport drives of the transport sections arranged adjacent downstream are activated,

-a transfer mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control the transport drive and the transfer drive, the transfer drive horizontally loading or unloading the transported objects from the transport section,

-a lifting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control the conveying drive and the lifting drive, which vertically loads or unloads the conveyed object from the conveying section, or

A sorting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to receive sorting signals and to control the conveying drive and the sorting drive, which sorts the conveyed objects from the conveying section onto at least two, preferably more, different outlets depending on the received sorting signals.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to select between different transport modes, which are stored in the electronic second memory. This enables a rapid configuration of the transport sections in the transport path in one of a plurality of possible transport modes. Here, it can also be configured such that the individual transport sections are configured in transport modes different from one another. In this case, a transport mode is understood to mean an operating mode which defines the transport path of the objects in a predefined bus protocol and in a predefined decentralized control configuration. In particular, such a conveying process can be carried out by a so-called ZPA (zero pressure buildup) operating mode, in which the individual conveying sections are controlled in such a way that objects are conveyed without touching one another. This can take place, for example, in a single spatial withdrawal, wherein the object is then precisely transported into the next downstream transport section when this next transport section is empty, which is typically detected and signaled by a corresponding sensor of this next transport section. Furthermore, a so-called group evacuation can be configured as a ZPA transport mode, in which, when the object continues to be transported in the next downstream transport section, it is then precisely transported into this next transport section, which is typically detected and signaled by a corresponding activation signal of the transport drive of this next transport section. Other transport modes are directed to specific transport sections with additional functions, such as deviation (loading or unloading functions), lifting facilities, sorting functions by means of distribution devices and code readers on two or more alternative transport section outlets, etc. In this case, the control unit assumes, via additional signal inputs and/or outputs, corresponding additional control functions for such a transport section.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that: the delivery device comprises a manual user interface connected to a microprocessor, and the microprocessor is configured to: the signal reception via the user interface is processed as a configuration change command. In principle, it should be understood that: the entire configuration process within the control device according to the invention can be carried out by software control via a separate configuration computer or via a central control computer, which is connected to the bus communication means. However, according to this embodiment, the necessity of connecting a central computer for configuration purposes can be avoided by: i.e. the control unit is provided with a user interface which is capable of inputting a configuration change command. The manual user interface can be configured, for example, as a mechanical key element, operating button, touch screen or the like, and in particular as a binary switch having two states or as a multi-switch having a plurality of states.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that: the manual user interface is a switch that can be triggered by a magnetic signal, in particular a reed contact or a hall sensor. Such a switch which can be triggered by means of a magnetic signal can reliably avoid: such as by inadvertently touching a switch or key to enter an unintended configuration change command. In particular, a switch which can be operated by such a magnet can ensure that the switch can be triggered only by configuration changes of authorized persons, for example, only by the magnetic field strength which moves within a specific region defined by the upper and lower limits, and the respective magnet for triggering the switch is dispensed only to the respective authorized person.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that: the control unit comprises an optical user interface for optically outputting signals, which is connected to a microprocessor, and the microprocessor is designed to: the selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations is displayed via an optical user interface. Such an optical user interface further improves the previously explained independent functions of the control unit and enables: the user is informed that the status of the control unit is displayed directly in the area of the control unit. The optical user interface can be realized here in the form of individual LEDs, which output a specific signal according to the respective specification or instructions in the user manual. Furthermore, other forms of optical user interface, such as an LCD display surface, are contemplated. In particular, the optical user interface can also be combined with a manual user interface, for example in the form of a touch screen or the like, in order to provide both user interfaces in a particularly efficient and space-saving manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that: the microprocessor is configured to: a selection of a control configuration displayed via the optical user interface is received via the manual user interface. The improved form realizes that: the control configuration takes the selection of a particular control configuration by means of a manual user interface and monitors or takes this selection, wherein the control configuration is displayed by means of an optical user interface. The implementation of the design can be carried out in different ways, for example in the form of different menu levels, which are selected via a manual user interface and within which navigation and selection can be carried out via the manual user interface. Furthermore, the manual user interface can be designed in such a way that it implements different commands by different triggering methods, for example short or long triggers, short consecutive multiple triggers or individual triggers, and thus uses different menu levels or uses different selections.

Particularly preferred here are: the microprocessor is configured to: a first selection level for selecting between bus protocol selections or control method selections is controlled via a manual user interface and is displayed via an optical user interface, and when a bus protocol selection is selected in the first selection level, a second selection level for selecting between different bus protocols is controlled and is displayed via the optical user interface, and when a control method selection is selected in the second selection level, a second selection level for selecting between different control methods is controlled and is displayed via the optical user interface. With the improvement: the selection of the bus protocol and the selection of the control method are carried out via a manual user interface or an optical user interface, and the control unit is configured individually and without the need to connect a computer for the device such that it can be used in the respective conveying device. Here, it is also possible to propose: the microprocessor is configured to: further operating functions can be selected and/or controlled via a manual user interface and displayed via an optical user interface, for example self-test or factory reset.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for controlling a conveying apparatus for conveying objects, such as containers or packages, the conveying apparatus comprising: a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive, the control unit having a microprocessor; a bus communication device to which a control unit is connected, the method comprising the steps of: -storing the first control configuration in an electronic first memory in the control unit, which is connected to the microprocessor, characterized in that the following steps are provided: in a further embodiment, the method comprises the steps of storing a second control configuration, preferably a plurality of control configurations, which is different from the first control configuration, in an electronic second memory of the control unit, processing the control signals in the microprocessor and controlling the transport drive in a first transport mode in accordance with the first control configuration, receiving a configuration change command, loading the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration from the second memory into the first memory, in particular replacing the first control configuration by the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration, and thereafter processing the control signals in the microprocessor and controlling the transport drive in a second operating mode in accordance with the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration. The method can be improved here in the following way: i.e. the first control configuration comprises a first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means and the control unit in said first operating mode transmits and/or receives via said bus communication means according to said first bus protocol, and the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second bus protocol different from the first bus protocol and the control unit in the second operating mode transmits and/or receives via the bus communication means according to the second bus protocol.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the first control configuration comprises a central first control method and the microprocessor receives control commands via the bus communication means and forwards the control commands to the transport drives in a first operating mode, and the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a decentralized second control method different from the first control method, and the microprocessor receives occupancy signals and/or transport signals from the control units of adjacent transport sections, processes the occupancy signals and/or transport signals logically, generates control commands in the logical processing, and sends the control commands to the transport drives in a second operating mode.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the microprocessor receives the configuration change command via a manual user interface at the control unit, in particular by triggering a switch, in particular a reed contact or a hall sensor, by means of a magnetic signal.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the microprocessor outputs signals for the selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations via an optical user interface.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the microprocessor receives via a manual user interface a selection of a control configuration displayed via an optical user interface.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the microprocessor receives signals for a first selection level via a manual user interface, which is used to select between bus protocol selections or control method selections and is displayed via an optical user interface, receives signals for selecting between different bus protocols in a second selection level via the manual user interface when a bus protocol selection is selected in the first selection level and is displayed via the optical user interface, and receives signals for selecting between different control methods in the second selection level via the manual user interface and is displayed via the optical user interface when a control method selection is selected in the first selection level.

Furthermore, the method can be improved by: the conveying device controls a first conveying mode via the microprocessor in a first control configuration and the conveying device controls a second conveying mode, different from the first conveying mode, via the microprocessor in a second control configuration or in a control configuration different from the first control configuration, wherein the first conveying mode and/or the second conveying mode are preferably selected from:

a single evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of a delivery sector when it obtains a signal comprising: the transport section disposed adjacently downstream is not occupied,

a group evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of the delivery section when it obtains a signal comprising: the transport drives of the transport sections arranged adjacent downstream are activated,

a transfer mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control the transport drive and the transfer drive, the transfer drive horizontally loading or unloading the transported objects from the transport section,

a lifting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control the conveying drive and the lifting drive, the lifting drive vertically loading or unloading the conveyed object from the conveying section, or

A sorting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to receive sorting signals and to control the conveying drive and the sorting drive, the sorting drive sorting the conveyed objects from the conveying section onto at least two, preferably more, different outlets depending on the received sorting signals.

With regard to the control method and its individual method steps, reference is made to the previously described subject features of the corresponding control device and the variants, advantages and preferred embodiments described therein.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It shows that:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a part of a conveying apparatus according to the invention, and

fig. 2 shows a flow chart of the selection of the control configuration in the conveying installation according to the invention.

Detailed Description

With reference to fig. 1, the conveying device according to the invention comprises a plurality of conveying sections, of which two conveying

sections

10, 20 are shown in fig. 1. Each transport section has a

motor roller

11, 21, a

raster sensor

12, 22 and a

control unit

13, 23 which is connected to the motor roller or the raster sensor in the respective transport section via a respective electrical line.

The

control units

13, 23 are connected to one another by means of a bus line 30, which is connected to the control units by means of the

respective coupling units

14, 24.

Each control unit has a

CPU

15, 25, a

RAM

16, 26 and a

flash memory

17, 27 realized by an integrated circuit or SD card in a respective hardware interface. The

RAMs

16, 26 and the

CPUs

15, 25 are integrally configured. Furthermore, a switch or a push button, preferably a magnetic sensor, in particular a

hall sensor

18, 28, is provided at each control unit, so that the user can trigger the hall sensor from the outside by holding a magnet.

The illustrated conveying device can in principle be controlled in such a way that objects can be conveyed by the motor roller 11 into the region of the motor roller 12 and can thus be conveyed further from the motor roller 12. In this case, the raster sensor 11 first registers the occupation of the transport section 10 and, after the further transport has been effected, the occupation of the transport section 20. The occupancy signal is sent by the

grating sensors

12, 22 to the

respective control units

13, 23.

In this case, the control can take place in a central control method, so that control commands are sent to the

control units

13, 23 by an SPS (not shown) connected to the bus line 30 and sensor signals of the

sensors

12, 22 are sent to the SPS via the

control units

13, 23 and the bus line 30. In this case, the SPS determines in a logic operation step which transport section is to transport the object, transmits a corresponding transport drive signal to the

corresponding control unit

13 or 23 via the bus line 30, and the

control unit

13, 23 transmits this control signal directly to the

connected transport drive

11 or 21.

In contrast, the transport section can also be operated by means of a decentralized control method. Here, for example, the control unit 23 sends an idle signal of the light barrier sensor 22 to the control unit 13 via the bus line 30, after which the control unit 13 logically determines, by means of the processor 14: objects in the transport section 10 detected by the occupancy signal of the sensor 12 can be transported further by activating the transport drive 11. Subsequently, the control unit 31 sends an operating signal to the conveyor drive 11 and causes the conveyor drive to operate during a preset time period in order to convey the object into the conveyor section 20. In principle, the logic inside the processor 14 can also specify: activation of transport driver 11 occurs when a signal is sent by control unit 23 via the bus line that transport driver 21 has activated such that a group retirement that controls synchronization replaces the single retirement described earlier.

The control unit according to the invention can be configured so that it can execute different control methods in different bus protocol systems. The corresponding configuration for this is shown in fig. 2.

In this configuration procedure, in a first step 100, the

hall sensor

18 or 28 is first triggered and the control unit is thus placed in the configuration mode. In a decision step 102, the CPU displays the optional configuration of the control method or of the bus protocol for the user by alternately blinking two LEDs of the optical user interface and waits for the hall sensor 18 to be triggered again. If the hall sensor 18 is again triggered when the LED for the bus protocol configuration is activated, the configuration menu jumps to the next decision point 111, and if the hall sensor is reactivated when the LED for the configuration control method is activated, the configuration menu jumps to the next decision grid 121. If the hall sensor is not operated again for both configuration menus after five alternatingly activated LEDs, the configuration menu jumps directly to the output 104 and the control unit is placed back in the normal operating mode for activating the conveying process.

In the menu level for configuring the bus protocol, the TCP/IP protocol is first displayed via a graphical user interface in a first decision step, wherein the LED specific to this is activated. If the Hall sensor is re-triggered during the activation of the LED, the configuration menu jumps to a configuration change step 115 and changes the bus protocol according to the TCP/IP bus protocol configuration. If instead the hall sensor is not triggered within five seconds, the configuration menu jumps to the next decision step 112. In a decision step 112, the graphical user interface displays the CAN bus protocol by activating the respective further LED, which CAN be selected again as before by reactivating the hall sensor within five seconds, thus jumping again to the configuration change step 115. If the hall sensor is not triggered again within five seconds, the configuration menu jumps to the next decision step 113, in which the Profibus protocol can be displayed and selected by means of the corresponding LED activation. If no selection is made again, the configuration menu jumps directly to the output 104 and places the delivery facility back into the normal operating mode.

Analogously to this mode of operation, in a further menu level, a selection can be made between a central control method and a decentralized control method via two decision points 121, 122, and if one of the two methods is not successfully selected, the configuration menu jumps back to the output 104 and remains configured as it was. In principle, it is to be understood that: other selection options and branches can be implemented within the menu level and menu point, for example to select between a group retirement and a single retirement, etc.

Claims

1. A conveying apparatus for conveying an object, the conveying apparatus comprising:

-a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive;

-a bus communication means for communicating with the bus,

-wherein each control unit is switched into the bus communication means to send and/or receive control signals via the bus communication means,

characterized in that each control unit has:

-a microprocessor for processing the control signal;

-an electronic first memory connected to the microprocessor, in which first memory a first control configuration is stored; and

-an electronic second memory in which a second control configuration different from the first control configuration is stored,

-wherein the microprocessor is configured to:

in a first operating mode, the transport drive is controlled by means of the first control configuration stored in the first memory,

upon receiving a configuration change command, loading the second control configuration or a control configuration different from the first control configuration from the second memory into the first memory, and thereafter

In a second operating mode, the transport drive is controlled by means of the second control configuration stored in the first memory or the control configuration different from the first control configuration,

wherein the first control configuration comprises a first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means, and the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second bus protocol different from the first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means.

2. The transport apparatus of claim 1,

the microprocessor is configured to: replacing the first control configuration in the first memory from electronics in the first memory by the second control configuration from the second memory or the control configuration different from the first control configuration upon receiving the configuration change command.

3. Transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first electronic memory is a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory and the second electronic memory is a non-volatile memory.

4. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

-the first control configuration comprises a first control method configuring the microprocessor to receive control commands via the bus communication means and to forward the control commands to the transport drives in a central control mode, and

-the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second control method different from the first control method, the second control method configuring the microprocessor to receive occupancy signals and/or transport signals from control units of adjacent transport sections in a decentralized control mode and to generate logically in the microprocessor control commands from the occupancy signals and/or transport signals and to send the control commands to the transport driver.

5. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

-the first control arrangement comprises a first control method which configures the microprocessor to control a first delivery mode, and

-the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second control method different from the first control method, the second control method configuring the microprocessor to control a second delivery mode different from the first delivery mode.

6. The delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a manual user interface connected to said microprocessor and in that said microprocessor is configured for: processing reception of a signal via the user interface as a configuration change command.

7. The delivery device of claim 6, wherein the manual user interface is a switch that can be triggered by a magnetic signal.

8. The delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit comprises an optical user interface for optically outputting a signal, which is connected to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor is designed to: displaying, via the optical user interface, a selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations.

9. The delivery device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit comprises an optical user interface for optically outputting a signal, connected to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor is configured for: displaying, via the optical user interface, a selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations, and the microprocessor is configured to: receiving, via the manual user interface, a selection of a control configuration displayed via the optical user interface.

10. The delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor is configured to: controlling a first selection level for selecting between bus protocol selection or control method selection via the manual user interface and displaying the first selection level via the optical user interface, and

-upon selection of the bus protocol selection in the first selection level, controlling a second selection level for selecting between different bus protocols and displaying the second selection level via the optical user interface, and

-controlling a second selection level for selecting between different control methods according to claim 5 or different control modes according to claim 6 when selecting the control method selection in the second selection level and displaying the second selection level via the optical user interface.

11. The transport apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the object is a container or a package.

12. The transport apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of control configurations different from the first control configuration are stored in the second memory.

13. A transport apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first electronic memory is a flash memory and the second electronic memory is a flash memory.

14. The transport apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first transport mode and/or the second transport mode is selected from:

a group evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of a delivery sector when it receives a signal comprising: the transport drives of the transport sections arranged next downstream are activated,

a transfer mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control the transport drive and a transfer drive which horizontally loads or unloads the transported objects from the transport section,

a lifting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to control a conveying drive and a lifting drive which vertically loads or unloads the conveyed object from the conveying section, or

A sorting mode in which the microprocessor is configured to receive sorting signals and to control the conveying drive and the sorting drive, the sorting drive sorting the conveyed objects from the conveying section onto at least two different outlets depending on the received sorting signals.

15. The conveyor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sorting drive sorts the conveyed objects from the conveying section onto a plurality of different outlets according to the received sorting signal.

16. The transport apparatus of claim 7, wherein the switch is a reed contact or a hall sensor.

17. A method for controlling a conveying apparatus for conveying objects, the conveying apparatus comprising:

-a plurality of transport sections, wherein each transport section has a transport drive and a control unit for controlling the transport drive, the control unit having a microprocessor;

-bus communication means, to which the control unit is connected,

the method comprises the following steps:

storing a first control configuration in an electronic first memory in the control unit connected to the microprocessor,

the method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

-storing a second control configuration, different from the first control configuration, in an electronic second memory of the control unit,

-processing control signals in the microprocessor and controlling the transport drive in a first mode of operation according to the first control configuration,

-receiving a configuration change command,

-loading the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration from the second memory into the first memory, and thereafter,

-processing control signals in the microprocessor and controlling the delivery driver in a second mode of operation according to the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration, wherein,

-the first control configuration comprises a first bus protocol for configuring data communication via the bus communication means, and the control unit in the first operating mode transmits and/or receives via the bus communication means according to the first bus protocol, and

the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a second bus protocol different from the first bus protocol and the control unit transmits and/or receives in the second operating mode according to the second bus protocol via the bus communication means.

18. The method of claim 17,

-the first control configuration comprises a central first control method, and the microprocessor receives control commands via the bus communication means and forwards the control commands to the transport drive in the first operating mode, and

-the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration comprises a decentralized second control method different from the first control method, and the microprocessor is in the second operating mode

Receiving occupancy signals and/or transport signals from the control units of adjacent transport sections,

logically processing the occupancy signal and/or the transport signal,

the control command is generated in a logical process,

sending the control command to the transport drive.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the microprocessor receives the configuration change command via a manual user interface at the control unit.

20. A method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the microprocessor outputs signals for selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations via an optical user interface.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the microprocessor outputs signals for selection and/or display of the first and second control configurations or different control configurations via an optical user interface, and wherein the microprocessor receives selection of a control configuration displayed via the optical user interface via the manual user interface.

22. The method of claim 21,

the microprocessor

-receive, via the manual user interface, a signal for a first selection level for selecting between bus protocol selection or control method selection and displayed via the optical user interface, and

-receiving a signal for selecting between different bus protocols in a second selection level via the manual user interface and displaying via the optical user interface when selecting the bus protocol selection in the first selection level, and

-when the control method selection is selected in the first selection level, then a signal for selecting between different control methods is received in a second selection level via the manual user interface and displayed via the optical user interface.

23. The method of claim 17 or 18,

-the conveying device controls a first conveying mode via the microprocessor in the first control configuration, and

-the conveying device controls, via the microprocessor, a second conveying mode, different from the first conveying mode, in the second control configuration or in the control configuration different from the first control configuration.

24. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the object is a container or a package.

25. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that a plurality of control configurations different from the first control configuration are stored in an electronic second memory of the control unit.

26. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by replacing the first control configuration by the second control configuration or the control configuration different from the first control configuration.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first mode of transport and/or the second mode of transport are selected from:

a group evacuation mode in which the microprocessor activates the delivery driver of a delivery section when it obtains a signal comprising: the transport drives of the transport sections arranged next downstream are activated,

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sorting drive sorts the conveyed objects from the conveying section onto a plurality of different outlets according to the received sorting signal.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the configuration change command is received by triggering a switch with a magnetic signal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the switch is a reed contact or a hall sensor.